Clinical Study on CT-guided Modified Akupotomye in the Treatment of Lumbar Nerve Posterior Branch Compression

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of modified akupotomye closed lysis under CT guidance on compression of posterior lumbar nerve branch.Methods: Patients were diagnosed by HRCT 3-D reconstruction combined with clinical symptoms and signs.After HRCT three-dimensional reconstruction combined with clinical symptoms and signs, the patients were confirmed as posterior lumbar nerve compression.After CT accurate surface positioning, CT-guided modified akupotomye was used for closed lysis of the posterior lumbar nerve branch.Oswestry Dysfunction Index Questionnaire(ODI) was used for quantitative scoring, 7 days before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment.Results: In 62 cases, 20 cases were cured, with 25 cases markedly effective, 11 cases effective, and 36 cases ineffective.The total effective rate was 90.3%.ODI score: Self-paired t test 7 days before after treatment, P < 0.01;Before treatment and 6 months after treatment, self-paired t test(P < 0.01);Self-paired t-test was performed 7 days after treatment and 6 months after treatment(P > 0.05).Conclusion: With CT precise positioning, the modified akupotomye can be used to do closed lysis, to relieve the adhesion and compression, so that the low back pain can be relieved, with good clinical.The akupotomye closed lysis, combined with modern imaging technology has not only achieved good clinical effect, but also can improve the accuracy, safety and scientificity of akupotomye treatment.     

Clinical validation of three-dimensional ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm

ObjectiveThree-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) examination is a relatively new modality that can be used for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance, and may offer improved reproducibility over conventional two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) examination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interoperator reproducibility of maximum anterior-to-posterior diameter by nonphysician ultrasound technicians in a typical vascular laboratory setting, on patients with infrarenal AAAs using 3D-US and 2D-US examination.MethodsA total of 134 consecutive patients with asymptomatic infrarenal AAAs were screened. Of the 134 patients, 28 (21%) were screen failures. From the remaining 106 patients, 3 (2.8%) had missing data and 13 (12.3%) had technically unacceptable image quality. As a result, 90 patients were included for final analysis. Ultrasound image acquisitions were performed during the single visit. The 2D-US images were evaluated at the time of examination by the respective ultrasound technicians who acquired them. All 3D-US images were evaluated offline by both ultrasound technicians after a wash-out period of at least 6 weeks.ResultsExcellent interoperator reproducibility was observed for measuring maximum diameter using 3D-US (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.97), and good agreement among ultrasound technicians (mean difference, −0.08 mm; limits of agreement, −3.17; 3.00 mm). When using 3D-US examination, 74 of the 90 patients (82%) were estimated within 2 mm of interoperator variability. Of 90 patients, 52 (58%) were estimated to be within the same variability by 2D-US examination. Estimating AAA diameter using 3D-US was superior to 2D-US with respect to interoperator reproducibility.ConclusionsBoth 3D-US and 2D-US examination demonstrated good reproducibility among two vascular ultrasound technicians with superior agreement from 3D-US examination. The present results support the broader use of 3D-US in standard AAA surveillance programs.     

Can we correct first metatarsal rotation and sesamoid position with the 3D Lapidus procedure?

ObjectiveWe examine the technique and radiographic outcomes obtained with triplanar first tarsometatarsal arthrodesis (3D Lapidus) for the surgical correction of hallux valgus (HV). This procedure, apart from correcting angular deformity 1st–2nd intermetatarsal angle, HV angle, etc., is specifically intended to act on first ray pronation and place the sesamoids in their normal position, to alleviate the metatarsalgia often occurring in HV before and after surgery, possibly caused by their abnormal position.This study aims to examine the radiographic outcomes of the 3D Lapidus procedure.Materials and methodsRetrospective study of 37 feet operated on from April 2019 to December 2019, with a minimum 1-year follow-up (mean 420 days), using the 3D Lapidus procedure. Radiographic outcomes were evaluated.ResultsThe intermetatarsal angle decreased from a mean value of 16.42° to 5.62° (p < 0.0001). The HV angle decreased from a mean value of 32.12° to 8.05° (p < 0.0001). The preoperative first metatarsocuneiform angle, with a mean value of 21.86°, was null after arthrodesis (p < 0.0001). The tibial sesamoid position, according to the Hardy and Clapham classification, decreased from a mean value of 4.84 to 1.27 after surgery, within normality (p < 0.0001).DiscussionCorrection of the deformity in a single plane is generally insufficient. It is necessary to act on the three planes of space to correct the deformity, obtain good outcomes, and avoid recurrence.ConclusionsRadiographic outcomes of triplanar correction with the 3D Lapidus procedure are excellent, achieving statistically significant differences in all parameters studied.     

Prospective assessment of reproducibility of three-dimensional ultrasound for fetal biometry

PurposeTo compare fetal ultrasound measurements performed by two observers with different levels of experience and evaluate the potential contribution of the use of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound on repeatability, reproducibility and agreement of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D-derived measurements.Materials and methodsTwo observers (one senior and one junior) measured head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) in 33 fetuses (20 to 40 weeks of gestation). Each observer performed two series of 2D measurements and two series of 3D measurements (i.e., measurements derived from triplane volume processing). Measurements were converted into Z-scores according to gestational age. Variability between the different series of measurements was studied using Bland–Altmann plots and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).ResultsAgreement with the 2D measurements of the senior observer was higher in 3D than in 2D for the junior observer (systematic differences of −0.4, −0.2 and −0.8 Z-score vs. −0.1, −0.1 and −0.6 for HC, AC and FL on 2D and 3D datasets, respectively). The use of 3D ultrasound improved junior observer repeatability (ICC = 0.94, 0.88, 0.90 vs. 0.94, 0.94 and 0.96 for HC, AC and FL in 2D and 3D, respectively). The reproducibility was greater using the junior observer 3D datasets (ICC = 0.75, 0.60 and 0.45 vs. 0.79, 0.89 and 0.63 for HC, AC and FL, respectively).ConclusionThe use of 3D ultrasound improves the consistency of the measurements performed by a junior observer and increases the overall repeatability and reproducibility of measurements performed by observers with different levels of experience.     

CT血管成像三维重建技术在布加综合征中的应用价值

目的 评估CT血管成像三维重建在布加综合征中的应用价值。方法 选取2011年2月至2013年12月就诊的布加综合征患者93例为研究对象,采用CT血管成像技术评估其门静脉、下腔静脉及肝静脉病变情况。结果 所有患者中,病变累及下腔静脉者(Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型)69例(74.19%),下腔静脉隔膜形成者34例(49.28%);肝静脉受损者(Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型)59例(63.44%),肝静脉隔膜形成者15例(25.42%);另有2例患者下腔静脉和肝静脉均有隔膜形成。56例(60.22%)患者存在侧支循环,食管胃底静脉曲张阳性39例(41.94%),脾脏肿大73例(78.49%),腹水36例(38.71%),肝脏尾状叶增大8例(8.6%),肾静脉血栓形成6例(6.45%)(双侧受累2例,单侧受累4例),原发性肝细胞癌5例(男性4例,女性1例)。结论 CT血管成像三维重建技术能够较好地反映布加综合征影像学特征,对布加综合征的临床诊疗具有较好的指导意义。